Outcome of joint EAO-EPRA Workshop on “Empowering users: rating systems, protection tools and media literacy across Europe”

As part of their long-lasting collaboration, the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) and the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA) jointly organised in Strasbourg on 15 December 2014 a workshop on “Empowering users: rating systems, protection tools and media literacy across Europe”.

*Picture courtesy of Benjamin Thull©

• This workshop is the first experiment of its kind as it forged new paths of cooperation between experts, representatives of the industry and regulators, with the aim to address through a multi-stakeholders’ and cross-media approach important and societal topics, such as the empowering of users and the protection of minors in new audiovisual services.
   

• The workshop built on the work conducted by the EPRA Annual Working Group on "Empowering Users" at the 2014 spring and autumn EPRA meetings (see "attached documents" below).
   

• The interactive workshop was built around a four-tier structure encompassing regulatory aspects, self and co-regulatory commitments, protection tools and media literacy.

The summary of the debates held during the workshop, including links to the presentations made by the participants has now been published and is also available below as an attachment.

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AGENDA

Welcome to the EYC:

• Mara Georgescu - Educational Adviser, Youth Department, Council of Europe

Opening remarks:

• Susanne Nikoltchev - Executive Director, European Audiovisual Observatory
• Damir Hajduk - Vice Chairperson of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA)

Setting the scene:

• Introduction to the workshop: Emmanuelle Machet - Secretary to EPRA
• Natali Helberger - Professor, Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam
• Pieter Nooren - Senior Scientist (TNO), The Netherlands

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PANEL 1 - Mapping of existing regulatory obligations (Chair: Emmanuelle Machet - EPRA)

Sophie Valais - Legal Analyst, European Audiovisual Observatory

Presentation of examples - Regulators:

• Benjamin Thull - Expert on protection of minors, Media Regulatory Authority of Baden-Württemberg (Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg), Germany
• Marita Bergtun - Senior Adviser, Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet)
• Kenza Zaz - European Affairs Officer, French Broadcasting Regulatory Authority (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel)
• Damir Hajduk - Deputy Chairman and Member of the Council, Agency for Electronic Media (Agencija za elektroničke medije), Croatia

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PANEL 2 - Mapping of co- and self-regulatory commitments (Chair: Sophie Valais - OBS)

Peter Matzneller - General Manager, Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Germany

Presentation of practical examples of co-regulation - Regulators & Industry:

• Nienke Meester - Legal Advisor, Dutch Media Authority (Commissariaat voor de Media)
• Wim Bekkers - Director, Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM)
• Jürgen Bänsch - EU Affairs Manager, Pan-European Game Information (PEGI)

Presentation of practical examples of self-regulation - Regulators & Industry:

• Otto Vollmers - Managing Director, Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter (FSM), Germany
• Federico Sircana - Project Manager, RTI Interactive, Mediaset, Italy

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• Paulina Staszczak - Legal Specialist, Monitoring Department, National Broadcasting Council of Poland (Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji)
• Tanja Kerševan-Smokvina - Principal Advisor, Agency for communication networks and services of the Republic of Slovenia (Agencija za komunikacijska omrežja in storitve Republike Slovenije)

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PANEL 3 - Focus on protection tools (Chair: Francisco Cabrera - OBS)

• Stephan Dreyer - Senior Researcher, Hans-Bredow Institute for Media Research, Germany
• Pieter Nooren - Senior Scientist (TNO), The Netherlands

Presentation of practical examples - Regulators & Industry

• Séverine Fautrelle - EU Affairs Adviser, Canal+ Group, France
• Benjamin Thull - Expert on protection of minors, Media Regulatory Authority of Baden-Württemberg (Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg), Germany
• Stefan Schellenberg - CEO of JusProg e.V., Germany
• Maria Donde - International Policy Manager, Strategy, International, Technology and Economists (SITE), Ofcom, United Kingdom

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PANEL 4 - Creating awareness and wrapping up (Chair: Maja Cappello - OBS)

Martina Chapman - Director, Mercury Insights Limited, United Kingdom

Presentation of practical examples - Regulators & Industry

• Loreta Vioiu - Staff member, Council of Europe
• Anne-Catherine Berg - Legal Adviser, European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

EBU digital media literacy video examples

• Peter Behrens - Head of Department, Media Authority of Rhineland-Palatinate (Landeszentrale für Medien und Kommunikation Rheinland-Pfalz), Germany
• Otto Vollmers - Managing Director, Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter (FSM), Germany
• Philippe van Meerbeeck - Strategic Policy Advisor, VRT, Belgium

Source: Observatory/EPRA